Dashcam footage released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol reveals the moments leading up to the arrest of four individuals suspected of burglarizing Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's Ohio residence in December 2024. The incident occurred while Burrow was in Arlington, Texas, competing against the Dallas Cowboys. Model and social media influencer Olivia Ponton, identified as an employee of Burrow, was present at the home during the break-in but remained unharmed.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the house was ransacked. The four suspects, identified as Chilean nationals, were apprehended as part of a larger investigation into burglaries targeting high-value homes across multiple states, as reported by WLWT-TV, citing court documents.
The arrests took place in Clark County on January 10th following a traffic stop conducted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The suspects, identified as Sergio Cabello, Bastian Morales, Jordan Sanchez, and Alexander Chavez, allegedly presented false identification and were determined to be in the country illegally or to have overstayed their visas, according to the arrest report.
The dashcam video shows officers searching several bags in the SUV the suspects were traveling in. Among the items discovered were an old LSU shirt and a Bengals hat, believed to have been taken during the December 9th burglary of Burrow's home in Hamilton County. Burrow is a former LSU football player and resides in Hamilton County. During the traffic stop, the suspects claimed they were en route to Florida, despite traveling in the opposite direction. A trooper subsequently instructed the driver to exit the vehicle after detecting the odor of marijuana.
Investigators also found two Husky automatic center punch tools, described as “window punchers,” believed to be used by the South American Theft Group, wrapped in a towel within the vehicle.
The four suspects are facing charges that include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, participation in a criminal gang, possession of criminal tools, and obstructing official business.
During the burglary, Olivia Ponton contacted her mother, Diane Ponton, who then placed a 911 call. The recording captures Diane Ponton reporting the break-in and expressing concern for her daughter's safety. Following the incident, Burrow publicly addressed the situation, stating he felt “violated” by the intrusion and highlighting the challenges of maintaining privacy in the public eye.
This incident follows a series of burglaries targeting professional athletes, prompting both the NFL and NBA to issue security warnings to their players. Earlier this year, the NFL released a memo urging heightened vigilance after homes belonging to Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized. Similarly, the NBA issued a memo to team officials in November following home invasions targeting Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves player Mike Conley.
